Parent/Student Resources / Homeless Students: Enrollment Rights and Services

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act was authorized by Congress, December 2001, as a part of the No Child Left Behind Legislation. The purpose of the McKinney-Vento Act is to remove barriers to education for homeless/transitional students and provide educational support and stability.

Who is considered eligible for the Homeless Education Program's (McKinney-Vento) assistance and services?

Any child or youth lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence is considered homeless and McKinney-Vento eligible for assistance and services. This includes children or youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing or economic hardship; living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; awaiting foster care placement; living in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations for human being; living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned building, substandard housing, transportation stations or similar settings; and/or migratory children living in conditions described in the previous examples.

Education Rights of children and youth who qualify for services and assistance

Our schools provide equal access to all students regardless of their living situation. McKinney-Vento eligible child and youths have specific rights that include:

Each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths.
Academic assistance through the district's federally funded Title 1 program.
Transportation assistance if needed.
Eligible for free breakfast and lunch program.
School Placement is based on the best interest of child and youths.
Eligible for assistance with course fees.
The school will work with other funding sources within buildings to provide clothes and shoes for child and youths.
Assistance obtaining records and documentation.
Homeless children and youths should have access to the education and other services that such children and youths need to ensure that each children and youths have an opportunity to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held.

Homeless Assistance

Pullman School District's Homeless Education Program was created to support the educational needs of students who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence during the school year. We work to ensure educational stability for our students who do not have a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence so they feel supported and encouraged while they secure permanent housing.

If you have a student/child who may qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Act or would like more information please contact:

Susana Reyes, Assistant Superintendent, District Homeless Education Liason 332.3144

Kellie Glaze, School Counselor, Pullman High School 332.1551

Gene Baldeck, School Counselor, Pullman High School 332.1551

Paula Cartwright, School Counselor, Lincoln Middle School 334.3411

Jane Rosenberg, School Counselor/Psychologist, Franklin Elementary 334.5641

Susan Horstman, School Counselor/Psychologist, Jefferson Elementary 332.2617

Katie Vandemark, School Counselor/Psychologist, Sunnyside Elementary 334.1800

Resources

Local Resources in Pullman

Resources in Moscow, Idaho

State and National Resources for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth